UCONN possibly landing Batouly Camara?

[Fairfield Fan]

It would represent a sea change in how Coach Geno operates his team. Never before has he taken in more than one transfer on one team, and it's usually long before another one comes around. Perhaps these days Coach Geno is recognizing that there are some coaches who are actually abusive, and that there are great kids who just don't want to endure dysfunctional environments any longer.

But it does seem as though two players- Walker and Batouly- who are within an inch of each other in height, would think of themselves as in competition for playing time. Other than the point guard and a 6'6" center, everyone else is relatively interchangeable in Coach Geno's system. Only five kids on the floor at a time. So...

But the coach is a genius, and he has never endangered team cohesion for the sake of any recruit. So if the story is true (very odd that it would come out before an official announcement), then it sounds very positive.

 

[EricSD]

Just a little Post Script...

Geno, in these transfers (assuming the reports on Batouly are correct) is addressing the only weakness in recruiting the past 4 years. He missed out on Reimer, McCall, Mavunga, Wilson, Turner, Westbeld, Cox, Holmes and McCoy. I'm not saying he went hard after all of them, but either UCONN chose to go in a different direction, or they eliminated UCONN on their own.

So what he's done is landed 6'5" transfer Butler, 6'6" transfer Stevens, and now possibly 6'2" transfer Camara. In general of course I think we'd all prefer he landed a kid the first time around and could expect to have her for 4 years, but lately, it's been a lot of being the 2nd choice, or not a finalist for most of these post players.

Think about the roster the year Camara and Stevens would be available to play:

Post - Butler (SR), Stevens (JR), Camara (SO), Irwin (SO)
Wing types - Williams (SR - and yeah, maybe she's a post too), Samuelson (JR), Collier (JR), Gordon (FR)
Guards - Ekmark (SR), Nurse (SR), Dangerfield (SO), Bent (SO), Espinosa (FR)

That's not only an incredibly talented team, but also a very versatile one. SO many options to mix and match. NO idea who the 5 starters would be - but certainly a team totally loaded in every area and probably one of, if not THE, favorite to win the NC that year...

 

[Carnac]

It would represent a sea change in how Coach Geno operates his team. Never before has he taken in more than one transfer on one team, and it's usually long before another one comes around. Perhaps these days Coach Geno is recognizing that there are some coaches who are actually abusive, and that there are great kids who just don't want to endure dysfunctional environments any longer.

But it does seem as though two players- Walker and Batouly- who are within an inch of each other in height, would think of themselves as in competition for playing time. Other than the point guard and a 6'6" center, everyone else is relatively interchangeable in Coach Geno's system. Only five kids on the floor at a time. So...

But the coach is a genius, and he has never endangered team cohesion for the sake of any recruit. So if the story is true (very odd that it would come out before an official announcement), then it sounds very positive.

Times change. Seasons change. People (and coaches) change and evolve. As we grow into adulthood, we become smarter and more insightful everyday. With age comes wisdom. Not coveting or pursuing transfers may have been his forte at one time, but times change. Situations change, and sometimes make the pursuit of transfers necessary, especially if a transfer (Stevens) is coveted by other top ranked programs.

If a high ranked player decides to leave a program, and wants to transfer to your school, why would you refuse to accept her if everything else is equal (she's good in the classroom, no off court issues, she's not a problem child, and has zero baggage or ego issues). If she can help your program, why wouldn't you be willing to accept her? Times are changing. Five star players are transferring now more than ever. It's a new day. The type of day that will make one change his line of thinking along some lines. I'll bet Geno didn't have to thing too long and hard about accepting Stevens if she wanted to come to UConn...................about 2 seconds. I'll bet when he heard she wanted to come to Storrs for a visit, he couldn't get that red carpet out fast enough.

 

[NewCorn]

Is UCONN going this route because they know they will not get Walker? Why would she commit after this if Camara does sign with UCONN?

If Walker is as confident as she needs to be, the stronger UConn is the more likely she is to comitt

 

[ucalum]

Has Camara come on a campus visit? And when was this visit?
There was another report saying she was at Penn State this weekend for a visit.

 

[bags27]

In general of course I think we'd all prefer he landed a kid the first time around and could expect to have her for 4 years, but lately, it's been a lot of being the 2nd choice, or not a finalist for most of these post players.

And, precisely because Geno and other top coaches ARE taking them the second time around, it might encourage even more high schoolers to first "follow their bliss"-- play closer to home, go where friends are going, commit to someone who coached them in summer ball, go where they will get more playing time right away etc.--realizing that they can always now transfer to a top program should it not work out for them. So, it might mean that the big challenge of accepting the "UConn way" directly out of high school will be even less appealing, because those who prove themselves elsewhere first have a second chance. I don't want to make too much of this: transferring is traumatic and you have to sit out a year. But psychologically, it might affect decision making by high schoolers and their parents.

 

[baggerbob]

Times change. Seasons change. People (and coaches) change and evolve. As we grow into adulthood, we become smarter and more insightful everyday. With age comes wisdom. Not coveting or pursuing transfers may have been his forte at one time, but times change. Situations change, and sometimes make the pursuit of transfers necessary, especially if a transfer (Stevens) is coveted by other top ranked programs.

If a high ranked player decides to leave a program, and wants to transfer to your school, why would you refuse to accept her if everything else is equal (she's good in the classroom, no off court issues, she's not a problem child, and has zero baggage or ego issues). If she can help your program, why wouldn't you be willing to accept her? Times are changing. Five star players are transferring now more than ever. It's a new day. The type of day that will make one change his line of thinking along some lines. I'll bet Geno didn't have to thing too long and hard about accepting Stevens if she wanted to come to UConn....about 2 seconds. I'll bet when he heard she wanted to come to Storrs for a visit, he couldn't get that red carpet out fast enough.

She said the players made her feel at home, it says something for the type of players Geno brings to Uconn. Everyone understands its about team, not individual players. Those who don't understand transfer out. You can be a reserve at Uconn, and still make it in the WNBA, Kiah Stokes shows that.

 

[HuskyNan]

She said the players made her feel at home, it says something for the type of players Geno brings to Uconn. Everyone understands its about team, not individual players. Those who don't understand transfer out.

There are a million reasons a player might transfer out of UConn. Not sure why you said that.

 

[Carnac]

And, precisely because Geno and other top coaches ARE taking them the second time around, it might encourage even more high schoolers to first "follow their bliss"-- play closer to home, go where friends are going, commit to someone who coached them in summer ball, go where they will get more playing time right away etc.--realizing that they can always now transfer to a top program should it not work out for them. So, it might mean that the big challenge of accepting the "UConn way" directly out of high school will be even less appealing, because those who prove themselves elsewhere first have a second chance. I don't want to make too much of this: transferring is traumatic and you have to sit out a year. But psychologically, it might affect decision making by high schoolers and their parents.

Bags, you nailed it. Great post!!! A very accurate observation. Agree 100%. As I said, it's a new day and times, and coaches (Geno) have got to change with it. Does anybody seek out and accept more transfers than Ohio State and Louisville?

 

[Kibitzer]

I seriously doubt that Geno rolled out any carpets for Nat, Stevens, or Camara. As Diana stated: "Geno won't kiss your ass!"

I believe he consulted with his coaching staff and players to determine if each would be a "UConn fit." Only after a thumbs' up did he make the offer and close each deal.

 

[Goodgood]

Does anybody seek out and accept more transfers than Ohio State and Louisville?

Yes. South Carolina.

 

[Aluminny69]

There are a million reasons a player might transfer out of UConn. Not sure why you said that.

I agree with what you posted. However, I can't remember a starter or anyone playing significant minutes transferring out of UConn. There was a guard around 2000, who was a starter by default, several other guards, including Sue Bird, were injured. When she discovered she would not be starting the following year, she transferred out. I'm sure old timers will remember her name and the circumstances.

 

[Kaizen]

This news really makes my day.
Next big thing will come from Walker? I hope ...

 

[Ctpaul0825]

I agree with what you posted. However, I can't remember a starter or anyone playing significant minutes transferring out of UConn. There was a guard around 2000, who was a starter by default, several other guards, including Sue Bird, were injured. When she discovered she would not be starting the following year, she transferred out. I'm sure old timers will remember her name and the circumstances.

Marci Glenney?

 

[malevocalist#]

Where was she ranked coming out of high school?

 

[BobbyJ]

If this works out for UConn, she will be like finding gold. She is a totally different type player than a transfer like Butler. There won't be any concern about her physical skills and conditioning. With hard work and focus, she can OFFENSIVELY be the glue inside that makes that spread motion offense hum. Much like Tuck, she'll demand a double team inside with IMO better ups and extension. If she can come anywhere close to Tuck defensively look out. With KLS and Collier a year better plus another couple wings brought in, turn off the lights.

 

[EricSD]

Where was she ranked coming out of high school?

53 per HG, 30 per PN, 30 per BS, not sure about ASGR...

 

[cohenzone]

I agree with what you posted. However, I can't remember a starter or anyone playing significant minutes transferring out of UConn. There was a guard around 2000, who was a starter by default, several other guards, including Sue Bird, were injured. When she discovered she would not be starting the following year, she transferred out. I'm sure old timers will remember her name and the circumstances.

Samarie Walker transferred to Kentucky. Years ago Tammy Arnold left. Brianna Banks, Kennetra Johnson, Liz Sherwood all of whom played or stood to play a whole lot more than Glenney.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Times change. Seasons change. People (and coaches) change and evolve. As we grow into adulthood, we become smarter and more insightful everyday. With age comes wisdom. Not coveting or pursuing transfers may have been his forte at one time, but times change. Situations change, and sometimes make the pursuit of transfers necessary, especially if a transfer (Stevens) is coveted by other top ranked programs.

If a high ranked player decides to leave a program, and wants to transfer to your school, why would you refuse to accept her if everything else is equal (she's good in the classroom, no off court issues, she's not a problem child, and has zero baggage or ego issues). If she can help your program, why wouldn't you be willing to accept her? Times are changing. Five star players are transferring now more than ever. It's a new day. The type of day that will make one change his line of thinking along some lines. I'll bet Geno didn't have to thing too long and hard about accepting Stevens if she wanted to come to UConn....about 2 seconds. I'll bet when he heard she wanted to come to Storrs for a visit, he couldn't get that red carpet out fast enough.

But Coach Geno has no reason to "change." He's won 11 national championships, and is the winningest coach over the past two decades. And during that entire period, he very rarely took in transfers. So for a guy who's just won his fourth straight national championship and is on the second-longest winning streak in WCBB history to accept three transfers on a single team is extraordinary.

It begs the question of what's changed? Is he acknowledging that recruiting has not been what he's wanted the past few years after his '02 catch? Or is it that he knows that some teams are hell holes, and that great kids have figured that out?

It will be very interesting to hear his answer to the "what's changed?" question when journalists are permitted to talk to him about it.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Just a little Post Script...

Geno, in these transfers (assuming the reports on Batouly are correct) is addressing the only weakness in recruiting the past 4 years. He missed out on Reimer, McCall, Mavunga, Wilson, Turner, Westbeld, Cox, Holmes and McCoy. I'm not saying he went hard after all of them, but either UCONN chose to go in a different direction, or they eliminated UCONN on their own.

So what he's done is landed 6'5" transfer Butler, 6'6" transfer Stevens, and now possibly 6'2" transfer Camara. In general of course I think we'd all prefer he landed a kid the first time around and could expect to have her for 4 years, but lately, it's been a lot of being the 2nd choice, or not a finalist for most of these post players.

Think about the roster the year Camara and Stevens would be available to play:

Post - Butler (SR), Stevens (JR), Camara (SO), Irwin (SO)
Wing types - Williams (SR - and yeah, maybe she's a post too), Samuelson (JR), Collier (JR), Gordon (FR)
Guards - Ekmark (SR), Nurse (SR), Dangerfield (SO), Bent (SO), Espinosa (FR)

That's not only an incredibly talented team, but also a very versatile one. SO many options to mix and match. NO idea who the 5 starters would be - but certainly a team totally loaded in every area and probably one of, if not THE, favorite to win the NC that year...

When I heard about Camara considering UConn I thought to myself how stacked the 2017-18 and 2018-2019 teams could be. Imagine if Walker comes too? That would be a ridiculously loaded team at least for two seasons starting after next season.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

So that is 12 players on the roster for the 17/18 season? That's about the limit for a UConn team. So how many more can Coach Geno take in from the 2017 and 2018 high school recruiting classes? Does this throw a spanner in the works?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

So that is 12 players on the roster for the 17/18 season? That's about the limit for a UConn team. So how many more can Coach Geno take in from the 2017 and 2018 high school recruiting classes? Does this throw a spanner in the works?

 

[MilfordHusky]

If Walker is as confident as she needs to be, the stronger UConn is the more likely she is to comitt

Exactly--more likely to win a title in Storrs and less likely in South Bend.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

So that is 12 players on the roster for the 17/18 season?

13

 

[trb123]

Will future releases be conditional that they do not go to UCONN?

 

[HuskyNan]

I agree with what you posted. However, I can't remember a starter or anyone playing significant minutes transferring out of UConn. There was a guard around 2000, who was a starter by default, several other guards, including Sue Bird, were injured. When she discovered she would not be starting the following year, she transferred out. I'm sure old timers will remember her name and the circumstances.

Kennitra Johnson was a key player on the 2000 National Championship team, was named to the All-Big East Rookie team, and averaged over 22 minutes a game. But she's painfully shy and was uncomfortable with the intense scrutiny the UConn players get.

Liz Sherwood was averaged only 8.5 minutes a game but she had an early season injury and a mid-season illness. Also named to the All-BE Rookie team, she was expected to be a key player in her sophomore year. Geno was very unhappy to lose Liz but she realized during the season that sh just chose the wrong school.

Samarie Walker averaged 18.8 minutes in her freshman year. No one really knows why she left; I'm not sure if Geno knows.

Those are off the top of my head.

 

[Charliebball]

Ms Camara's twitter page strangely shows very little sign of interest in UConn...............she recently started following several U of Michigan players along with a]Michigan assistant coach.........................................just sayin...................

 

[winlots]

If Walker is as confident as she needs to be, the stronger UConn is the more likely she is to comitt

NEW: nifty point.

 

[winlots]

I watched a bunch of KY games the 2nd 1/2 of the season and she really impressed me with her strength, toughness, rebounding skill and a nice offensive game for a freshman! With the UCONN coaching staff having a year to get her skills and mental outlook she'll be a load to handle in 2017-2018 with Azura Stevens, Natalie, Gabby, Collier, Irwin, the ceiling really is limitless for our Huskies! Geno never rests! Being that her choices out of HS were UCONN and KY she just took the path that was closest in her mind! WOW!

RSH: glad to get that first hand view. Appreciated here.

 

[winlots]

OK, I'm sold. Based on the learned and informed opinions given here, the newspaper article, and the latest weather report (which way the wind is blowing), I'm convinced that there's a better than 50% chance UConn will land her.
When Dangerfield committed, I commented (predicted) that UConn would get 1-2 more coveted signees (not necessarily out of high school) this year. Stevens was the first, I would not be surprised if Camara was the second. OMG, wouldn't she be a huge get. Every time I log onto the yard, I expect to read that Camara has decided to come to Storrs. It's a gut feeling that I've had before. I'm pretty sure it's intuition and not gas.

CARN: intuition vs gas? Hey, with a bloviator like you, you do have to wonder ( a wink back atcha)....on the other hand, intuition is your thing. I like your odds.